ESPRIT HELISKI PROGRAMS

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is our base located?
Our base is in Valgrisenche, a wild valley in the region of Aosta Valley
in the north west of Italy. Our valley stretches for 28 km reaching as
far as the Tarentaise on the French border.

How to reach us?
Valgrisenche is 2 and a half hour drive from Milan and Geneva airports.
Direction to follow:
- from Milan - take the highway direction Torino, afterwards
follow for Aosta; highway exit in Aosta Ovest; follow directions for
Courmayeur, after 10 km in Arvier take the second exit at the roundabout
and keep going up the road until Valgrisenche.
- from Geneva - take the highway, direction France-Chamonix; then
follow for Mont Blanc tunnel Aosta-Courmayeur; pass the Mont Blanc
Tunnel; at the exit of Courmayeur follow signs to Aosta on the normal
road for 15 km (do not take the motorway). Right after the third tunnel
in Leverogne/Arvier turn right and take the road for Valgrisenche until
you will reach the chosen hotel.

What is included in the package?
The package includes:

the standard helicopter flights;

the return flights to the base;

Professional ski guiding and instruction;

ABS airbag, ARTVA, shovel and probe.

What is not included in the package?

Accommodation;

Meals;

Extra flights.

How is the group organized?
The helicopter fits up to 4 people + the guide and the pilot.
Groups can be composed of max 4 pax, but the group can be also composed of less people.
The best way to enjoy you heliski holiday in Valgrisenche is to come in a
group of friends (it is normally very difficult to organize groups with
people who don’t know each other, are not of the same ski level and
have different expectations etc.).

Do we organize private groups?
We also organize groups for private heliskiing. What does this mean? The
private group will have the helicopter available only for himself, it
will not be shared with other groups at the bas and will you wait for
you at the end of your descent.

What happens in bad weather?
In the case of bad weather our guides will suggest you an alternative
activity: you can either decide to move, the group will ski with the
mountain guide in one of the nearest ski resorts such as Courmayeur,
Pila, La Thuile. If, however, you are looking for something else, there
are lots of different walks around with cross country skis or snow
shoes. If, on the other hand, if you are looking for some more ”lazy”
time, you can either take the day to relax in the beautiful SPA in Pré-Saint-Didier or visit the historical city centre in Aosta and feast on a
nice italian lunch in a restaurant on our recommendation!

Can I bring my own equipment?
Yes, you can bring your own ski equipment with you; you can also bring
your airbag backpack if you like, the guide will only check that it
functions properly.

Do you mix skiers with snowboarders?
Yes, we mix the two: if you are coming together in a group of friends,
there should not be any problem. Of course, always baring safety, snow
and weather conditions in mind, the guide will choose the itinerary that
will suit both.

When are the best conditions to come?
When you are deciding on the right time of the season for your heliski
holiday, try to think about the type of skiing you are looking for,
whether you are looking for deep powder or light snow etc. The busiest
time in the season is from mid February to mid March, mainly because
this is the period for deep powder. Over the past 10 years, the most
popular month to be in Valgrisenche is March: stability is always better
than at the beginning of the winter and we can have some very good
snowfalls with days of good weather after. On the other hand, April and
May can offer very beautiful spring weather, you won’t find deep powder
but nice and light snow, easy and soft to ski. In any case, since nature
and the climate is unpredictable, like anywhere, snow conditions can
never be guaranteed.

How good do I have to be?
To come heliskiing in Valgrisenche you do not need to be an advanced
skier/rider. One of the advantages of Valgrisenche is that the terrain
is suitable for any level.
If you have skied in fresh powder at least once and you consider
yourself to be an intermediate skier, you are ready to come heliskiing
with us!
With Espritheliski you can go at your own pace, you can do some gentle
skiing whilst enjoy the landscape with your friends and get the most out
of every turn you make, or if you prefer "full power” skiing our guide
will happily take you on a unforgettable journey!

Do I need to ski all day?
No, you do not need to ski all day. The helicopter refuels two to three
times per day. Your guide will gladly plan your flight back to the base
if the pilot can coordinate your flight out with the fuel run. Please
advise your guide in advance if you only plan to ski some of the day so
that he can organize your flight back to the base at the end of the day.
Please note you will not be refunded if you do not make all the flights
included in the package out of your own choice, while the rest of the
group keeps skiing.

What is the vertical drop in Valgrisenche?

The vertical drop ranges from 1.000 to 2.100 meters for each descent,
but actually in Valgrisenche, after years of experience, we have decided
to make prices based on flights and not on the descent/vertical drop:
here in the Alps it may be that the snow conditions are not perfect
until the bottom of the mountain and therefore the pick up flight will
be where the snow changes and the conditions are not suitable anymore.
The vertical drop will vary for each descent depending on the snow
conditions and this is why the Esprit Heliski philosophy is to enjoy
your run, your ski and not stress and worry about vertical meters.
Typically we ski/board between 4 to 12 runs each day, it depends on the
group’s ski level and wishes. The length of the day, number of runs and
terrain selected are determined by the snow conditions, weather, time of
year, and the group's abilities. On days with excellent weather we make
the most of excellent weather and we always try to ski more to maximize
your enjoyment and skiing time.